Sunday, July 31, 2011

LMAS: WHO ARE THE PLAYERS

LOUISVILLE METRO ANIMAL SERVICES For a long time now LMAS has had serious problems. From Gilles Melloche to Wayne Zelinsky to Jackie Gulbe, no one could seem to get a handle on the problems. Of course it would have helped if they themselves were not the problem, but I digress. Greg Fischer runs a Mayoral campaign on working towards a No Kill goal at LMAS then does the unthinkable.

He hires a guy named Justin Scally who has not the relevant experience nor the goal of No Kill based on his history of associations. While many have been covering this story I had been reluctant to do so until a final decision was made on the direction of LMAS. I have to say I am alarmed at the choice by Greg Fischer and decided to dig further into how this atrocity could have come about.

For full dislcosure sakes I also have to add I grew up with Becky Reiter, the other finalist from Boone County. As kids Becky was always concerned about animals and worked even then to help any animal stray or otherwise she could. While I grew up with Becky I also have to say we lost touch over 30 years ago so from a personal perspective I would have no idea if she were qualified or not.

At least until now when I did the research.

By far Reiter's resume is one that should have easily landed her this job over Scally.

The basics?

23 years experience in animal sheltering and animal control, 16 years as Director of Boone County Animal Care and Control.

Areas of Expertise:

Animal Shelter Management
Animal Control Laws and Enforcement
Community Relations and Outreach
Animal Behavior
Animal Licensing
Volunteer Management and Development

As Director of Animal Care and Control Reiter established a multi-year plan focused on restoring public confidence through substantial employee training, improvement of animal care, customer service and positive effective communication with local animal groups, veterinarians and the community at large.

Additionally,Reiter is responsible for planning, organizing, evaluating, and supervising the activities of the animal shelter, field services and law enforcement for the cities of Florence, Union and Walton and the county of Boone. Duties include budget preparation, financial and operational oversight, supervising and evaluating staff and numerous volunteers, oversight of shelter health program, working with shelter advisory board, development and implementation of personnel training, maintaining and updating safety program and security programs, inventory of controlled substances, and other related duties.

Let's not forget Reiter is homegrown and a current member of the Kentucky Animal Control Advisory Board where she has been since 1999.

So much more I can't list it in one article but if you want a copy of her resume let me know. Use it to force Fischer to right this wrong.

By comparison Scally's biggest claim to fame is his association with the Humane Society of the United States or HSUS. By comparison there really is no comparison. Just look at some of what the leaders of the HSUS have stated as their goals.

Check out this link: http://placeropolis.com/detail/110832.html

QUOTES FROM HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT/CEO WAYNE PACELLE:

When asked if he envisioned a future without pets, “If I had my personal view, perhaps that might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born.” ----Wayne Pacelle quoted in Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt by Ted Kerasote, 1993, p. 266.

“ One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals.” ---Wayne Pacelle, quoted in Animal People, May, 1993

"If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would." ---Wayne Pacelle, Associated Press, Dec 30, 1991

"Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting." ---Wayne Pacelle, (Bozeman (MT) Daily Chronicle, October 8, 1991

So what is the deal here by Fischer? The one thing that seems apparent and keeps coming up is he needed Scally because of his willingness to play ball.The game is to get Donald Robinson here and payback one of his biggest supporters Charlie Johnson. Why would Fischer hire a guy who comes with an 85% euthanasia rate to his credit while touting the goals of no kill?

Johnson's and Robinson's names keep popping up as the reason Fischer hired Scally. Robinson could not get hired as Director because of no qualifications and so was installed by Fischer as Assistant for a short period of time until he can move him up or onto another Metro job to satisfy Johnson.

Charlie Johnson you may recall was once noted as one of the top 100 Black owned companies in America. That is until he bankrupted the Company in 2009 and liquidated its assets. http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2009/01/12/story7.html

Of course he still received the Martin Luther King, Jr Freedom award in 2011. Yep you get rewarded with this fluff when you work with the Democrats in this town. And make no mistake Johnson is a player with democrats in this town.

Major donations to Abramson, Sadiqua Reynolds, Denise Bentley, Joe Corradino, Steve Beshear, and many more. He also claimed over $230,000 as unpaid rent for Immanuel Realty, LLC which was owned by himself as part of CW Johnson express during his bankruptcy filing in 2009.

And let's not forget that there were 92 former employees that asked the Kentucky Labor Cabinet to investigate unpaid wages and unpaid vacation time that they said the company owed them. The cabinet ultimately found that the company owed more than $295,000 to 153 former employees.

While all this was going on and he was broke he still was able to contribute the maximum campaign donation to Greg Fischer during his primary and general election. Wonder how that plays out for bankruptcy court?

So where did Johnson come from? Look no further than his ties to trucking with the CW Johnson Express Trucking Company where he moved vehicles for Ford before he fell from grace. Johnson previously was president of Active Transportation Co., which hauled trucks for the Ford Motor Co.

Johnson had formed the company with Alice Houston and Wade Houston, a former University of Louisville assistant basketball coach, but he sold his interest in 2001.

Johnson currently is the CEO of Immanuel Realty, LLC, where he is working with other groups for rehabilitation of the inner-city Central Area. He is operating several businesses, including GENESIS Beauty Salon and Barber Shop and GENESIS Beauty Supply.

How much or our money is funding these ventures today? We will soon know. I also have one other question.

Why would someone who holds a Doctorate of Law from Benedict College, a Doctorate of Law from Benedict College, a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Wilberforce University, a Doctorate of Civil Law from Simmons University and a Doctor of Law from Catherine Spaulding University, not be a lawyer but instead own a Beauty Salon and barber shop? There is more here than meets the eye in my opinion and part of the investigation.

Enter the new Assistant at LMAS Robinson who hails from a trucking company called Allied. Friends with Johnson and a political player well you get the gist. Robinson was brought in from out of town for a major role in Louisville politics by the Dems to pay back Johnson for his loyalty and support.

Of course don't forget Johnson also was appointed by Governor Steve Beshear to the Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority. In addition to maximum political campaign contributions as well. Stated by Beshear in 2009 when making the announcement?

“This is an essential step toward financing new bridges across the Ohio River, as well as other projects that are critically important but simply too large for our traditional system of transportation funding,” Gov. Beshear said.

At the same time Johnson was bankrupting his own company Beshear felt he was qualified for the position of figuring out financing for the bridges.

This appointment of Scally is a sham full frontal attack to a bigger picture here folks. There is more here than a simple idiotic move by Fischer. It is a lot larger than that. One that includes Robinson and Johnson and the bridges fiasco itself in my opinion.

3 comments:

I left a comment at the 'ville voice regarding your article, but the moderator wouldn't approve it for some reason. I always thought that NKL was nixed because they are too independent and non political to take over a corrupt Metro agency and play ball without spilling their guts to the media ala the Mayor's Facebook page. Please keep us posted.

Thank you for reading LNP. Open and honest discussions of local politics and relevant issues is important to voter understanding. Please listen to the "Ed Springston Show". We broadcast Monday through Thursday evenings at 7 PM on local media outlets. Please check for the links.Yours truly,Ed Springston

Louisville, KY - As you know I have outlined much in regards to Ford Motor Company, my belief that they have engaged in insider trading, ...

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